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Monday, 29 February 2016

Tenerife trip

Just back from a trip to Tenerife with mixed success. Flying from Norwich the trip got off to a bad start when we couldn't even find the resort, I had a street map showing the hotel location in the town, the layout of the junctions off the motorway bore no relation to the map and the junction numbers no relation to the actual numbers shown on the sign. We later found out the numbers were kilometre marks rather than the numerical numbers shown on the map. After 2 hours we finally found the resort and the hotel at 9pm only just arriving in time for a very late dinner. We stayed at Costa Adaje which was just north of Playa de las Americas it was a horrible large urban sprawl of massive over development for the holiday industry hotel everywhere.
Mon 22nd Feb at the Los Lajas picnic site Blue Chaffinches were initially heard sounding like a "slurred" drunk Chaffinch there calls were instantly recognisable. Very fine looking birds, bigger than our Chaffinch (I didn't see an ordinary Chaffinch all trip) and the males were particularly smart in the their metallic blue plumage and white eye crescents, around 10 seen-4 adults & 6 were immature males and 4 females seen but this species were nearly always feeding in the shade , around 6 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, small groups of Canaries (4, 6, 2, 5 & 3) , an around 5 African Blue Tits, a pair of Tenerife Buzzards calling like a Grey Heron when they flew overhead seen from the closed Mount Teide road and a single but very welcome Tenerife Goldcrest that showed in bushes on the track the opposite. Mount Teide was closed due to the recent snowfall half a day wasted.
Tues 23rd- Los Cristianos- Just missed the boat trip which ran at 11 so had to wait to 1.30pm (more hours wasted) for the next 8 Short- finned Pilot Whales and 8 Atlantic Spotted Dolphins plus 10 Cory's Shearwaters.
Wed 24th Feb- La Grimonas watcpoint- feral Pigeons, around 14 White- tailed Laurel Pigeons seen, 2 Bolles' Pigeon,Tenerife Robin, Kestrel and Tenerife Buzzard, a Barbary Falcon flew left and past us over the cliffs. At the Northern airport could only find the northern rather thsn the southern perimeter fence (there was no sign for Los Rodeos). Got terribly lost at La Laguna it was a one way system and as signs to Tegueste and Valle de Molina disappeared, sadly another half day wasted. I stopped off later on at Golf Del Sur along the northern perimeter fence waste by a pond on the goldf course a Grey Heron, 5 Cattle Egrets, 2 Moorhens and around 8 Spanish Sparrows seen. ground I saw 1, 2 and 2 Barbary Partridges, a Spectacled Warbler and 2 pairs of Berthelot's Pipits.
Thur 25th Los Lajas & Mount Teide- 1 Berthelot's Pipit was walking along the kerb stone in front of the cafe briefly but soon flew off and 3 Berthelot's Pipit in the staff car park around the back plus 2 feral Rock Doves.
Fri Trip to Punta teno, hair raising roads scenery looking like Peru rather than Spain. At Masca village, a very confiding Canary Islands Chiff- Chaff and Grey Wagtail. At Punta Teno very disappointing at the lighthouse 10 Painted Ladies seen and by the Tomato fields around 10 Canaries and a Linnet and an African Blue Tit by the rock face but no Rock Sp's or Barbary falcons or Osprey, the recommended lay-by was full of cars both times we passed so we couldn't stop and look for birds. Not entirely sure where Armenoime reservoir was, but a reservoir small one seen from road just past Armenoime, Grey Heron, a Little Egret and a single Painted Lady seen here, dog walkers flushed em though.
Sat- A very cloudy day, we missed the trip at the Yellow Submarine as they don't run on a Saturday pity our rep didn't tell us that when we asked her earlier on in the week, they are only interested in selling their own vastly inflated tours. A return trip to Golf Del Sur 1 plus 2 plus 2 Barbary Partridges, 2 pairs of Berthelot's Pipits. A trip around Jungle Park, revealed a Grey Wagtail in the White Lion enclosure, as we drove up we saw a free flying American Bald Eagle as day.